Happiness — the state of being happy. This feeling is something most people, if not all, wish to attain. Contrary to its simplistic definition, being happy is much more complex since there is no single blueprint for happiness. For many people, wealth or socioeconomic status are precursor to being happy. But what if there were a map of happiness, where people inhabiting a certain country, from a genetic standpoint, are supposedly happier than the rest? If happiness is simply a matter of geography, then the complicated road to happiness just might be resolved.
This is the proposition that Michael Minkov and Michael Bond made in their 2016 study, where they found a genetic component related to the overall happiness of a nation. Citizens present with the A allele in the fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH) gene variant rs324420 usually described themselves as happy. This allele moderates the degradation of anandamide, a substance responsible for the enhancement of sensory pleasure and the reduction of the feeling of pain.
Individuals of Amerindian and Euro-American descent had the highest A allele prevalence, who are also citizens of Euro-American countries that dominate the list of the ‘world’s happiest countries’. Conversely, Arab and East Asian nations who were least likely to report themselves as ‘very happy’ had the lowest A allele prevalence in the nation. Aside from genetic heritage, climatic stressors that are experienced by nations such as extreme climate variations were also associated with the presence of the A allele and thus, happiness.
These findings seemingly laid out the secret to happiness as a matter of genetic heritage, geographical location, or even worse, that happiness is only limited to some nations. But when aspects such as the political and economic climate of the nations are accounted for, the affirmation of happiness is not solely dictated by genetic basis. Other countries skew from the study trend like East European Nations and Estonia which, despite being European and having high amounts of A allele, were reported to be unhappy. This observation was attributed to the economic and political unrest these nations are experiencing. Moreover, the A allele was abundant in citizens of Ghana and Nigeria hence, disproving that happiness is limited to Euro-American countries.
More to the fact, life satisfaction – the primary metric of happiness used in the study – is only a part of the bigger picture that paves the way to happiness. In a different study conducted by Richard Burns in 2018, only life satisfaction varied significantly among the 11 well-being indicators measured in different countries. This may well be connected with the government and policies being employed in each country. The aforementioned claim also agrees with Meike Bartels & colleagues' study in 2022 which states that based on populations of European descent, happiness is only dictated by genetics by 40%. This leaves 60% to other factors and their interactions.
In the context of the Philippines, the exploration of happiness and the A allele in different Filipino populations is an untapped area. Even with the gap in research, it is without a doubt that Filipinos are known for their happy disposition. Even when it’s pouring, Filipinos continue on the bright side and remain resilient. Although genes serve as blueprints for our bodies, happiness is a blank canvas where one can draw inspiration from different blueprints to create a unique and colorful picture. From what we know, happiness is less a matter of where we are than the conditions we are surrounded with. A large part of happiness comes from other factors, may it be intrinsic or extrinsic. Fostering a supportive community and having policies that increase the capabilities and opportunities of individuals will pave the road for the complex journey to happiness.
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